Non-displaceable feeder mechanism for a stapling machine



May 24, 1960 w. G. PANKONIN 2,937,375 NON-DISPLACEABLE FEEDER MECHANISM FOR A STAPLING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1958 I7 WILLIAM PAMKQNI N FIG 5 V INVENTOR.

4 TTORA/E Y5 NON-DISPLACEABLE FEEDER MECHANISM FOR A STAPLING MACHmE William G. Pankonin, Chicago, IlL, asslgnor to Ace Fastener Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois This invention relates to a non-displaceable feeder mechanism for a stapling machine and is particularly applicable to stapling machines of the closed channel type wherein the staples are slid into the channel from one end thereof.

In machines of the type described the staple pusher must be removed from the staple channel to load the machine. Since spring means are operatively connected to the staple pusher so that the staples in the machine will be normally urged toward the discharge end of the staple channel when the machine is in operation, removal of the staple pusher is oftentimes accompanied by release of the tension of the spring rather suddenly. Unless the operator of the machine is prepared for this the staple pusher may be propelled across the room. Such an event may injure another person in the office or may ice duced which will not depart fromthe spirit and scope of. the invention as set forth in the claims.

The improvement of this invention is embodied in a stapling machine which is formed with a base 12. A pair of cars 14 are provided at the rear of base 12 and an anvil 13 is disposed upon said base.

A frame 15 is disposed upon base 12 having a pair of ears at its rear portion mating with ears 14. The ears upon said frame are designated by reference character 25.

A pair of pins secure cars 14 to ears and permit pivotal movement offrame 15 with respect to base 12.

Frame 15 is also provided with a staple channel 16 having a discharge end (not shown) and a loading end 17. Loading end 17 is formed with an extension 43. A staple pusher 22 having an upstanding portion 23 is movable within staple channel 16. Upstanding portion 23 is formed of two spaced units 24 and 26 which are cause the staple pusher to be lost. At best the operator must spend time in looking for the displaced staple pusher.

In order to prevent the staple pusher from being displaced the construction of thisinvention has been produced. In this construction complementary pivotal fast'ening means are provided upon the staple pusher and upon the machine. Thus displacement of the staple pusher cannot occur. At the same time, since the complementary fastening means upon the machine are located upon the cover-thereof, removal of the cover permits,

removal of the staple pusher entirely from the machine for replacement thereof, for clearing a jam in said staple channel or for any other purpose.

Furthermore, since the connection between the staple pusher and the cover of the machine is a pivotal one, the staple pusher can be pivoted about the cover and held in place above the staple channel when it is desired to load the machine.

The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification.

- Fig. 1 is a side view of a stapling machine embodying the construction of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the machine of Fig. 1 along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the rear portion of the machine shown in Fig. l with the staple pusher and associated parts in released position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 3 with the staple pusher and its operating handle shown by phantom lines in the position that these parts assume when it is desired to load the machine.

'Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rear of the stapling machine of this invention with the staple pusher and its associated parts removed for clarity of illustration.

The invention will now be further described by reference to the specific fonn thereof as shown in the drawings. However it is pointed out that the form shown is merely illustrative and other equivalent forms can be proeach provided with an opening 27 therein. A guide rod 28 is received within openings 27 and is retained upon staple pusher 22 by enlarged portion 29.

A handle 21 is secured to the rear of guide rod 28 and bears a prong 18 which may be removably secured within a recess 19 within extension 43 adjacent to the loading end of staple channel 16.

A spring 30 is disposed upon guide rod 28 and normally urges staple pusher 22 toward the discharge end of staple channel 16.

A cover 31 is disposed about staple channel 16 upon frame 15 and is secured to frame 15 by holding member 32 which is disposed between sides 40 of cover 31'as shown in Fig. 1. hold cover 31 in place which will be subsequently described. The sides 40 of cover 31 may be compressed toward one another thus making cover 40 laterally deformable.

A ram 33 is slidably movable against the staple preseated at the discharge end of staple channel 16 and bears a handle 34 thereupon.

The specific constructional modifications of the stapling machine so as to produce the instant invention will now be described in detail.

A pair of laterally extending projections 35 are disposed upon unit 24 of upstanding portion 23. A pair of hooks 36 are disposed upon the rear of cover 31 extend rearwardly from cover 31 adjacent the loading end 17 of staple channel 16. Hooks 36 are provided at their forward end with openings 37. Openings, 37 are in horizontal registration with projections 35.

Additional openings 39 are provided upon each side 40 of cover 31. Additional projections 41 are provided upon the inner face of frame 15. Projections 41 register with openings 39 andproject inwardly from the inner faces of frame 15 beyond ears 25.

With the foregoing description the operation of this invention will now be explained. The explanation will merely cover loading of the stapling machine since the use of the machine is, of course, conventional.

Handle 21 is pushed forwardly so that prong 18 can be displaced from recess 19 by turning handle 21. Handle tions 35 register with openings 37 of hooks 36. The rearward movement of staple pusher 22 is stopped when projections 35 engage the rear portions of hooks 36.

In order to remove staple pusher 22 from channel 16 to load the machine staple pusher 22 is drawn .back as far as it can go and is pivotally moved about hooks 36 as shown in Fig. 4 so that staple pusher 22 is held above staple channel 16. When suflicient staples are inserted into staple channel 16 staple pusher 22 is again moved pivotally and inserted into channel 16. Guide rod 28 Other removable holding members also i is pushed forwardly by handle 21 and prong 18 re-inserted into recess 19.

It sometimes happens that staples jam within channel 16 requiring the user of the machine to get at the staple channel to clear the jam. This can be easily accomplished in the structure shown in this invention by merely pulling cover 31 upwardly at the rear portion thereof and simultaneously pushing sides 40 of cover 31 towards one another so as to laterally deform cover 31. The pressure upon cover 31 thus causes projections 41 to leave openings 39. After cover 31 clears projections 41 it can be pulled rearwardly to remove it from member 32.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine having a frame, a staple channel within said frame formed with a loading end and a discharge end, a cover secured to said frame about said staple channel, a staple pusher movable within said staple channel formed with an upstanding portion thereupon, a guide rod operatively connected to said staple pusher, a spring about said guide rod normally urging said staple pusher toward the discharge end of said staple channel, a pair of complementary holding members peratively connected to said guide rod and to said frame for maintaining said spring means in normal operative relationship, and ram means for expelling a staple from said discharge end of said staple channel; the improvement which comprises a pair of laterally extending spaced projections upon the upstanding portion of said staple pusher, a pair of spaced hook members open at their forward ends secured to said cover adjacent the loading end of said staple channel and extending rearwardly from said cover, wherein each of said projections upon said staple pusher is adapted to move slidably and pivotally within a hook member so that said staple pusher can be removed from said staple channel, pivoted about said cover, and held above said staple channel when staples are loaded into the machine.

2. In a stapling machine having a frame, a staple channel therewithin formed with a loading end and a discharge end, a staple pusher within said staple channel, a rod member operatively connected to said staple pusher, a spring upon said rod member normally urging said staple pusher towards the discharge end of said staple channel and staple expelling ram means at said discharge end of said staple channel; the improvement which comprises a cover disposed about said staple channel, and a pair of spaced separable complementary pivotal fastening members upon said staple pusher and upon the rear of said cover, wherein said fastening members upon said staple pusher are adapted to move slidably within the complementary fastening members upon said cover so that said staple pusher is normally secured from complete detachment from said machine.

3. In a stapling machine having a frame, a staple channel therewithin formed with a loading end and a discharge end, a staple pusher within said staple channel,

a rod member operatively connected to said staple pusher, a spring upon said rod member normally urging said staple pusher towards the discharge end of said staple channel and staple expelling rarn means at said discharge end of said staple channel; the improvement which comprises a laterally deformable hollow cover overlying said staple channel and removably disposed with respect thereto, a pair of spaced projections upon said staple pusher and a pair of slotted members open at their forward ends upon said cover adjacent the loading end of said staple channel, and a holding member disposed within said cover and adjacent the discharge end of said staple channel, wherein each of said projections upon said staple pusher are adapted to move pivotally and slidably within said slotted members upon said cover so that said staple pusher is secured normally from complete detachment from said machine but can be separated from said cover by lateral deformation of said cover and removal of said cover from said stapling machine.

4. In a stapling machine having a frame, a staple channel therewithin formed with a loading end and a discharge end, a staple pusher within said staple channel, a rod member operatively connected to said staple pusher, a spring upon said rod member normally urging said staple pusher towards the discharge end of said staple channel and staple expelling ram means at said discharge end of said staple channel; the improvement which comprises a laterally deformable hollow cover overlying and removably secured about said staple channel, a holding member disposed within said cover and adjacent the discharge end of said staple channel, a pair of spaced laterally extending projections upon said staple pusher, and a pair of spaced hook members open at their forward ends secured to said cover adjacent the loading end of said staple channel and extending rearwardly from said cover, wherein an end of each of said projections are adapted to move pivotally and slidably within one of said hook members when said staple pusher is moved rearwardly, so that said staple pusher is normally secured from complete detachment from said machine but can be separated from said cover by lateral deformation of said cover and removal of said cover from said stapling machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,311,412 Pankonin Feb. 16, 1943 2,469,985 Pankonin May 10, 1949 2,675,547 Spencer Apr. 20, 1954 2,715,220 Spencer Aug. 16, 1955 2,781,515 Julifs Feb. 19, 1957 2,832,959 Pankonin May 6, 1958 2,857,596 Allen Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 389,298 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1933 

